Am I the only one that thinks those pictures with all the extra wood look like crap? Fake wook looks ok when it's tastefully and minimally used. But all over the whole front cabin? It's not a Jag or a Bently!

 

TSInvest,

I think you should get a fully loaded 2001 Lexus LS430 or GS430. Your wife will be happy. You will smile with the feel of the quality, the power, and knowing your new used car will not depreciate as fast as a new car. Both have plenty of performance and luxury.

I love the TL but I think it is too small to take clients out on a regular basis. Your wife is right, the image of the TL is too young for your profession and your lifestyle. I bet the TL would feel like a kids car compared to driving a more substantial and solid car like the Lexus or Mercedes.

If money is not an issue buy a new Lexus GS or LS or consider the Mecedes E.

 

Whatever you do, DO NOT buy the new Mercedes E-Class! They are plagued with problems. If you doubt this, consult Edmunds, J.D. Powers or Consumer Reports. Ever since the Daimler-Chrysler merger, instead of Chrysler products getting better, Mercedes products are getting worse - apparently the quality control is flowing the wrong way!

Lexus, however, build the finest mass-produced cars in the world, overall. Their current designs are rather bloated, stodgy or out-of-date, though.

And by the way, while Lexus and Mercedes and BMWs look and feel a little more substantial and refined than the Acura, the margin is very narrow, IMHO - and I'm picky as hell. As for the overall reliability of four-passenger sedans, Lexus is number one, Acura number two.

Don't discount the TL on features, performance or quality. However, if it doesn't suit the image you see for yourself, that's a different story.

Falconer

 

My wife and I are both 58 and love our 04TL. This is the car my wife drives and we traded her 00TL for it. Our 13-year old granddaughter fell in love with the car. She thinks we're really cool for old folks.

 

Funny. So far, all my friends think:

(A) It's real wood. The ones that know what real (and expensive) burlwood looks like think that it is real burlwood. I don't think I'm going to let them in on the "secret" that it's not.

(B) That it came standard with the car, until I told them that I installed it.

(C) That it looks great!

No, you're not the only one that thinks that it looks like "crap". I'm sure that others agree. Prsonally, I'm glad that Acura offers the option of both trim packages. I may not have been as interested if the TL only came with the carbon fiber. I thought the carbon fiber looked kinda goofy. Acura did a good job with both materials, though. I didn't know that both were fake until I read it on their website.

The first time I saw the 04TL I it was a DM/Parchment vehicle, and it was love at first sight. I'm not sure I would have been as smitten if I saw a Anthracite/Quartz first.

So, given a choice between fake wood and fake carbon fiber I chose the former and you chose the latter. Simply a difference of opinion, but you don't have to get too harsh about it.

FYI, as I was adding the wood, I applied, appraised, and then decided whether adding each piece was good for the overall "flow" or not. As it turns out, I didn't add the entire wood package that I was shipped. I personally think that it is a good balance between the original materials and the wood.

 

My husband is 60 and drives an RSX-S. Sometimes I tease
him and tell him he is the oldest person driving this model, but
bottom line is he likes driving a small sporty car.

If you are a two car family, she should drive what she likes and
you should have the same option.

On another note . . .

I'm not sure what the average age is of your client base, but
you may look very cool and 'in the know' driving an edgier
car like the TL.

 

I am 55 and traded a 95 Legend 6-speed coupe on a 04TL 6-MT.

My wife has a RX300 that she loves. She has always let me drive what I want (since I was driving it) as long as it was an automatic so we could both drive both cars. My solution to that problem was to get a used RL so that we would have two cars that she could drive.

At our age it is time to get the things that we want. This will probably be my last “fun” car – of course that is what I told her when I got the Legend in 1995.

 

Damn women always have to confuse things.

 

Ain't that the truth!!!